While it hasn’t been the prettiest start to the 2025 WNBA season for the Chicago Sky, currently sitting third-to-last in league standings, it’s been an even tougher beginning to Tyler Marsh’s tenure as head coach. And things didn’t get any better as the Sky suffered yet another defeat, this time an 85–66 blowout at the hands of the New York Liberty, dropping them to 2–6 on the season. Still, in Marsh’s own words, “You got to continue to look at the positives of each game,” and in this one, there were certainly a few silver linings.

The Liberty may have secured the win, but they couldn’t stop Chi-Town Barbie from stealing the spotlight. It’s because Angel Reese had one of her strongest performances this season, finishing with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists—marking her fourth double-double of the season.

“What we saw tonight is who Angel is,” Marsh said in the postgame press conference. “It was good to see the aggressiveness she has. She competed all night and she was a great teammate throughout the game.” And yes, this was the Angel we’ve come to know in her rookie year, fierce, dominant, and hungry.

Reese looked like her Year 1 self again, the same player who rattled off a double-double streak while averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Sure, the last nine games haven’t all been sunshine and sparkles; she even scored a career-low two points in her previous outing against the Liberty. But on this night, the “aggressive” Barbie was officially back.

What made her bounce-back performance even more poetic was the setting: the very same Barclays Center where she had previously struggled. This time, she flipped the narrative and secured her 30th career double-double, an astounding milestone reached in just 42 games. And as if that wasn’t enough, the electric atmosphere with over 16,000 fans in attendance, including some very familiar faces, made it even more special.

It was the 2025 Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff, fresh off her historic win over Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final, in attendance too. Her presence lit up the arena, drawing deafening cheers as her name was announced. She, too, responded with a smile, waved to the crowd, and made a heart gesture that had fans swooning.

But, what made it even more delightful was her receiving a warm greeting from WNBA players, including Reese, who shared a sweet moment with her following the historic double-double. However, Gauff wasn’t the only notable figure cheering on the action.

Lisa Leslie and the Bryant family also showed up in support. How could Reese not reflect? To make everything unforgettable, Reese, ever gracious, took time after the game to take photos with Kobe Bryant’s family.

However, she wasn’t the only one in the Bryants’ gallery. They were also there to support Sabrina Ionescu, a mentee to the Lakers’ legend and now sort of a mentor herself to Bianca. And if Reese’s night wasn’t special enough, she had one more heartfelt moment to cap it off.  Spotting Lisa Leslie in the stands, her mentor and guiding force, Reese rushed over and wrapped her in a hug that said everything. After all, Leslie deserves her flowers, too.

Angel Reese has a helping hand in the WNBA veteran

When Angel Reese signed with Unrivaled, it wasn’t just about staying busy during the offseason or securing the bag, though both played a part. The bigger reason? Growth. And that came with a little help from Lisa Leslie. The Hall of Famer has been working one-on-one with Reese, fine-tuning her footwork, polishing her post moves, and teaching her how to finish stronger around the rim.

And that’s why Reese even admitted that having Leslie in her corner feels like having her “in my back pocket”, a trusted mentor and sounding board whenever she needs guidance. But it’s not just Chi-town Barbie, who’s feeling the impact. For Leslie too, seeing the Chicago Sky standout absorb those lessons and apply them in real time, feels special. “Proud mom” moment she calls it.

To sum up Leslie’s teachings: “The offense and the paint finishes. Take your time, read the defense, keep the ball high off the glass.” But, still, even with Reese leading the league in rebounds at 12.1 per game and making historic strides, it hasn’t translated into wins for Chicago just yet.

The team’s currently on a two-game skid and missing veteran floor general Courtney Vandersloot, who won’t be returning this season. So now the big question is: Can Reese’s rebounding dominance and scoring spark carry the Sky to a stronger second half, or are they headed for another disappointing playoff miss like last year?